Wordless Wednesday.

It's a BOY!!

We are thrilled to announce that we will be having another Baby Boy join our family soon! We are also thrilled to announce that he looked perfect and healthy during our anatomy scan yesterday!

Wordless Wednesday.

Quick Update.

We've been busy around here! First, I decided to transform Nathaniel's bedroom from a baby nursery into a big boy room. Not a huge deal, right? Then, we thought we'd just get an early "start" on the baby's nursery by moving the crib across the hall (from Nate's room, to Baby's room). Nathaniel, in preparation for being the best big brother ever, helped Daddy put the crib back together!

Needless to say, all of this led to painting both rooms (blue for Nate, and yellow for Baby), carpeting both rooms, and beginning to sort though our loads and loads of baby things! We still don't know if we're having a little boy or a little girl, but the nursery is already well on its way to being finished! Though I feel a tiny bit silly about having an almost-ready for Baby nursery at 18 weeks pregnant, I am happy. I am a planner, and I like to get things done early; my original goal was to have the nursery completely finished by June. At this rate, it will be completely finished by the end of next week!

Then, while we were working, spring came! We have been having the most amazing weather this month--warm (borderline HOT!), sunshiney days, balmy nights, and highs in the upper 70's. Nathaniel loves running around outside in the yard, playing at the playground (we've already been twice this week!), visiting the ducks at the park, and taking evening walks around our neighborhood.

Thoughts on #2.

I'm feeling so many different emotions about our unborn child right now. Of course, I'm excited! I can't wait to find out if we're having a boy or a girl, I can't wait to hold him/her in my arms, and I can't wait to be a family of four.
But, as excited as I am, there is a little part of me that feels like Baby #2 is already getting the shaft! When I was pregnant with Nathaniel, I thought about the growing baby in my belly all. the. time. Now, I do think about this baby daily, but I'm too busy chasing Baby #1 around most of the time to think about what miracle is going on in my tummy! When I was pregnant with Nathaniel, we read a chapter of two different books each Thursday night as we jumped to a new week of pregnancy. This time, we change weeks on Fridays, and I typically remember to glance through the books sometime on Saturday or Sunday. Or Monday. When I was 17 weeks pregnant with Nathaniel, we had already bought several items for the baby (onesies, toys, etc). So far, I've only gotten three boxes of nursing pads for Baby #2.
And, although we don't know the sex yet, I'm already feeling a bit of guilt because I know that if we have another boy, he's already got about 12 boxes of hand-me-downs to wear! Heck, they're even going to have birthdays in the same season--everything should fit! Not that I think there is anything wrong with hand-me-downs (obviously), but every child deserves a few new things, right? It has even crossed my mind that if we have another boy, I could just decorate his room with the things that I've taken out of Nate's room recently. Is that terrible? To top it all off, we have absolutely NO IDEAS for boy names. None. We do have a girl name picked out (leftover from pregnancy #1), but I cannot think of a single other boy name that I love. I jokingly told Eric that if we have another boy, we'll just have to call him Isaac Nathaniel. But, the more I think about it, I think I was serious.
I suppose that once we find out the sex of Baby #2, I'll feel a little more connected to him/her. (And, there is a 50% chance that that entire last paragraph of guilt is unfounded.) To be honest, I don't remember if I felt any more or less of a connection to Nathaniel when I was 17 weeks pregnant with him. He was my first, and I didn't really know what to expect. I was excited (as I am now), but I didn't really know what I would eventually feel for him. This time, while I don't know this baby yet, I do understand a smidgen of the love that I will feel when I get to hold him/her and breathe in that sweet newborn scent.
Perhaps the most vivid memory of my life was the moment that Nate was born--I can still see the doctor holding his tiny body up in the air like it was yesterday. I don't remember a whole lot about anything else that happened during those minutes, but I remember the first second I could finally lay eyes upon my son. And, second only to the moment that Nathaniel gets to meet his new baby sibling, I am anticipating that moment again. What a miraculous thing it is to bring life into the world, and what a wonderful feeling it is to be a mother! The more I think about it, nothing else really matters. Baby #2 won't care whether or not I read a chapter of a pregnancy book every Friday, and he/she won't care if the onesies in the dresser are brand-new or leftover from Big Brother. All that Baby #2 will need is love and caring, and we've got plenty of that to give!! And, I guess the name thing might be a big deal....!

Littlest Book Worm.

I love books, and so does my husband. One of my favorite genres of books is children's literature. I'll admit that Nathaniel had quite a library of his own before he was even born (and, I might not admit that at least half of it was accumulated before he was even conceived!). Throughout the last 18 months, we have continued to collect kids' books for our child(ren). I read aloud to Nate while he was still in my tummy, and I read to both of my children [simultaneously] on a daily basis now. I try to make reading a priority in our home, and I rarely decline an opportunity to snuggle together and read a story. (I have been known to pause while cooking dinner to read a picture book on the kitchen floor more than once....)
For months, Nathaniel has enjoyed his books when we read to him and alone. It makes me heart swell with pride to see him seated next to a pile of books, flipping through the pictures and saying words that he knows. But, it was only today that I realized just how much of a little book worm we have created when I saw him drag his book pile(s) onto the couch for our morning story time!

And, yes, we did read every single book on that couch....some more than once!

Love.

I have never loved anyone in the way that I love this little boy! I never imagined that I could feel this way about anyone, and I can barely wrap my head around the fact that it's going to happen again. I cannot wait to give my boy a sibling, and I cannot wait for him to be a big brother. Most of all, I cannot wait to love another sweet baby with this immense and fierce momma love.

Wordless Wednesday.

"Wuboo!"

Nate has been picking up new words pretty rapidly recently--two yesterday alone ("uh oh" and "yay")! But, this morning's new word(s) were the first to bring tears to my eyes! I've been saying, "I love you" to my little guy approximately one million times/day since he was born, and I thought he might have repeated it back to me a few days ago. But, I wasn't sure (he was walking away), and he wouldn't repeat it. Today, I told him that I loved him, and, clear as day, I heard, "wuboo!" back. Sooo sweet! The more I repeated, "I love you!", the more he repeated his version back to me! Oh, I could melt!!

I love you forever and always, Nathaniel Isaac--to infinity and beyond!

15 week appt.

I had my 3rd OB appointment yesterday, and am happy to report that the baby looks wonderful! I've still been feeling some movement, but a peek inside via ultrasound is always reassuring (and fun!). He/She was laying down, knees propped up, and feet crossed--so cute! And, that little heartbeat makes my own heart melt!
I was reminded how much I like my doctor as she was operating the ultrasound machine, pointing out body parts and movement, when she suddenly said, "This is just so amazing!" And, she was right. Not only is it amazing that a tiny human is growing and developing perfectly right inside my tummy, but it's amazing too that we can actually see him/her! I, of course, was fascinated to see those itty bitty fingers and elbows and toes. But, I loved hearing the awe from a lady who has been doing this daily for probably at least 20 years. As much as we know that our own babies are miracles, it must be incredible to be the one who helps bring babies into the world every day. I'm sure she's seen her share of heartbreak throughout her career, but it must be overshadowed by oh, so much joy and wonder!
And, without any further ado, here is our little peanut! These are the three ultrasound pictures that I've had done so far--can you believe the growth in just a little over 2 months?! {Less than a month until we have our anatomy scan done and get to find out if we're having a boy or a girl (we hope!)}

Springtime?

I feel that I must preface this post with the fact that I love winter. I've missed the snow this year, and I've woken up more than once a grump because the weather man was wrong, and we didn't get 4-6 inches overnight! I want to take Nate outside to play in the snow, and I want to see our "winter wonderland" last for more than an afternoon.
All that being said, I am loving the abnormally warm weather that we've been having recently! Long walks outside, trips to the playground, and blooming flowers in February? I'll take it!

We took our first family walk of the year last week, and Nate walked down (and back!) our entire street! When did this kid get so big??

We took our first trip to the park of the year today, and we had a blast! It was a little breezy, but, c'mon, it's February! We visited the ducks, which Nate loved. He waved to them and said, "hi", then quacked back at them when they answered!

My little daredevil wasn't much interested in the playground swings (which he loved last summer!), and only wanted to climb up and slide down the sliding boards!

Wow, so this is real...

I started feeling Baby #2 moving about 2 weeks ago. Like any early fetal movement, it wasn't strong or often. Honestly, I was shocked to feel him/her this early because I didn't feel Nate until I was about 20 weeks pregnant! Within the past week, I've felt movement daily, which is so exciting--and reassuring! I love feeling those tiny movements that make this baby so much more of a reality.
On Saturday evening, Eric and I were watching television before bed when I felt a real thump! It wasn't the "fluttery" or "bubble" feeling that I've been feeling, but it felt like a kick...probably more like a body-slam this early! I was surprised, but didn't think a whole lot about it. On Sunday morning, before we got out of bed, I felt the thumping again. When I put my hand on my stomach, I could feel the baby from the outside! He/She continued thundering around in there for probably a minute or two--long enough for Eric to feel several little thumps! We were both shocked because he wasn't able to feel Nate kicking until I was probably about 5 months pregnant. Since Sunday, I've only felt small internal movements again, and if Eric hadn't felt them, I would say that it was all in my head!
I love, love, LOVE feeling the baby move around inside my belly, but I feel like this is all happening so quickly, and so much earlier than it did with my first pregnancy. Here's to hoping that my body is just that much more in tune with pregnancy now, and not that I'm having a monster-sized baby this time!!

18 months.

Nathaniel is 18 months old today! That's a YEAR & A HALF!! I thought 1 year was a big milestone, but I feel like 18 months is where we're seeing the big change from babyhood to little boy. Nate has been changing in so very many ways--from communication to climbing, from creative play to coloring!

Nate has physically changed so much recently; he's lost a lot of his baby chub, and he's looking more and more like a lean little boy. His hair is growing, and he has all of his teeth. He's becoming more and more independent every day, often wanting to walk, rather than be carried in public. He runs through the house like a whirlwind, and he recently started climbing onto the couches and beds.

Nate's favorite toys right now are his farm animal set, any balls, his wagon, his tool bench, and his mega blocks set. He loves all animals, and he knows the sounds for several (cow, dog, duck, owl, tiger, bear, etc). He still loves books, and will sit and look at his picture books often. We read books several times a day, and he loves every second!

Another of Nate's favorite activities is art projects. He loves to paint, color, glue and stick stickers. Sometimes he colors several pages with his crayons/markers, and sometimes he just sorts them in and out of their boxes. When we paint, he always enjoys painting several pages!

During the day, I usually try to do one or two organized activities with Nathaniel, and we do freeplay/books the rest of the time. Our activities include art activities, bean sorting, sensory play (snow!), dancing, building with blocks, baking, or doing puzzles. I love spending this time with him, and watching his skills sharpen and change is so rewarding. I know that a new baby will be a challenge, and I truly hope that I will have plenty of time to continue these special activities with Nathaniel. In the meantime, I'm determined to do as much as I can with my little guy!

One of Nate's favorite times of the day is when Daddy comes home from work! He gets so excited to see Eric, and they spend lots of time together playing in the evenings. I love seeing them together, and I love watching Eric be the amazing daddy that he is!

Nathaniel has been learning lots of new things, but I think that the most noticeable is the amount that he understands. He follows directions very well, even some complicated ones. He listens when we talk to him, and even when we're not talking to him! I am continually impressed with how much he is comprehending. He says several words, and often uses intonation in sounds to get his point across (IE "buh!" when he points at something he likes, or "buh?" when he want to know what an object is called). His most often used words are hi, byebye, mama, dada, goger (Grover), kitty, ball, book, bink (binky), bah (cup), yeah. He can point to several of his body parts when asked (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair, belly, hands, legs, and toes). He shakes his head for yes and no, and can usually motion for what he wants if he doesn't know the word. He will even motion for us to follow him so that he can show us things in other rooms that he wants!

Another one of Nate's enjoyed activites is watching television. He is not allowed to watch it very often (usually only once or twice a week for 15 minutes), but he loves it! We usually keep an episode of Curious George in the DVR for him, and he will sit and watch the whole 15 minute segment at a time. I usually only allow him to watch if I need him to sit still (usually to have his fingernails clipped!). He knows that the remote control works the television, and if ever he finds it within his reach, he's quick to start pushing buttons!

Nate's eating habits are wonderful. He's a good eater, and he likes almost everything! Within the past month, he's gone from refusing any cow's milk to drinking a full glass two or three times a day. He uses and fork and a spoon, and is very good at both. He loves pizza, spaghetti, grilled cheese sandwiches, and yogurt. He'll eat any fruit, and most vegetables. He's recently weaned himself totally from nursing, and eats three full meals and one snack daily.

Just for fun, here is a comparison between Nate now and 1 year ago. Biggest change? The days of posed pictures are a thing of the past...! Keep growing and learning, Sweet Boy! I am so very, very proud of you!

Big News!!

I haven't forgotten about this blog, I really haven't. But, I have been a little preoccupied recently (and, by "recently" I mean the past 12 weeks...). Not only have I been doing my usual toddler-chasing (hey, he can climb now too!), but I've also been sleeping approximately 15 hours/day and struggling to put any food on the table without feeling queasy. If you haven't heard already....
Eric and I are expecting Baby #2 in August!! We are sooo excited, and just a teensy bit terrified!
I'm 14 weeks pregnant, and I'm finally feeling normal again! This pregnancy has been a little more challenging than my first so far, but I'm optimistic that it's getting better. Since I've entered the 2nd trimester, I've been feeling lots better. And so, that means that I'm going to try to get back to the blog world! I've actually got quite a few post drafts saved that I didn't want to make public before we shared our pregnancy news, so those will be backdated and published soon. Hope everyone is doing well!!

New Tent!

Nathaniel received a new tent/tunnel as a gift, and we've been having a blast!

Weaned.

I think that I can safely say that Nathaniel is completely weaned now. As much as I didn't want our nursing relationship to be over, I am glad that is ended in the way that it did.
I had originally planned to nurse for one year. And, when we hit that goal, I was very proud. I wasn't sure that I wanted to stop, and I decided that, for now, I would let Nate decide when he was ready to be finished. When I got pregnant, I did a bit of research on the topic of breastfeeding while pregnant. I read that it is generally safe to nurse an older child while pregnant, as long as the pregnancy is progressing normally. I also read that many children will wean themselves because of milky supply drops, as well as changes in the taste of the milk. Since I'd already exceeded my goal of one year and have no interest in tandem nursing, I decided to stick it out until Nate was 18 months old, then work on weaning (at 14 weeks pregnant).
We've been down to one nursing session/day (at bedtime) for about 2 months now. To my surprise, on Monday night, for the first time ever, Nate didn't seem to have any interest in nursing. On Tuesday, the same thing. On Wednesday, I realized that it was over. He had weaned himself.
I'll admit that I shed a few tears, but I really am happy. I wish that I had known that our last nursing session would be our last, but it's probably best that I didn't because I might have cried the whole time! I could not possibly be happier that he decided this on his own because I was dreading the night that I would have to refuse him. It's been a wonderful year and a half, and I wouldn't trade that nursing relationship for anything! It lasted a lot longer than I'd hoped, and, despite a few bumps in the road, it was far easier than I'd imagined. I think the reason that I'm sad is because nursing was Nate's one last "baby thing" that was left. I don't miss the inconvinience of finding a place to feed my baby in public, and I don't miss multiple night wakings--but I will miss all the extra snuggles and the comfort that it provided us both. I will miss nursing him, but I am so excited to see what is next on this journey of motherhood!

Valentine's Day.

Nathaniel and I decided to treat Eric to a little sweet surprise this Valentine's Day!
Join us as we make cookies!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Thoughts on #2.

Ever since I had Nathaniel, I've wondered how it would ever be possible to love another child as much/in the same way that I love him. I wasn't exactly worried, but I wondered. Now, it's different. I'm not going to try to convince you that I've already bonded with the gummy bear-sized baby in my belly like I have my Nate, but I do already love him/her. As soon as I found out that I was pregnant, the question of "how?" was replaced only with this thought: "I cannot wait to love another baby in the way that I love Nate!" Oh, I can't wait!!

2012.

Happy New Year! Hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful and prosperous 2012!!

(image from Updater News.)

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that, for the first time since New Years Eve 2003, I missed midnight on New Years Eve with Eric last night--because I was asleep already! Sorry, Honey!!